Ground for radios and the like



May 3, 1932. c. H. PRESTON GROUND FOR RADIOS AND THE LIKE Filed March 16, 1927 I I r Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES GECILH. PRESTON, OF CEATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA GROUND FOB RADIOS AND THE LIKE Application filed March 18, 1927. Serial No. 175,755.

My invention is a ground for radio apparatus and may be used as a ground connection when an aerial is used for an antenna or it may be used in connection with a radio receiving set as a ground antenna.

An object of my invention is to reduce the resistance of a ground connection for use 1n radio reception and to form a ground which will form a satisfactory connection under all conditions of relative moisture or dryness of the soil.

Another object of my invention is the construction of a ground which for practical purposes does not deteriorate and in Wl'llCh a container has a certain composition of matter, this composition apparently having a chemical function and aiding in decreasing the resistance and forming a better ground than the ordinary practice.

A further object of my invention is the construction of a radio ground utilizing a container with chemicals materials therein, these materials being of such a character that they react together with water and cause the expulsion or exuding of some of the chemlcals or the products therefrom through apertures in the container.

In this connection a further object is to use certain compositions, the ingredients of which will react in the presence of water and generate a gas and such gas acts in the container, forcibly expelling or causing some of the elements of the composition or the resultant products being forced out of the openings in the container.

A still further object of my invention is to utilize a metal in the container which is dif ferent from the metal of the container and which with the ingredients of the composition and water are materials which will form an electrolytic cell or galvanic cell. The electrolytic action appears to disintegrate the copper, causing a closing adhesion of the composition or the resultant products to the copper of the container. 1

A more specific object of my invention is the utilization of a copper container having a certain number of apertures in its walls,

the container being filled with a composition of matter which apparently has a chemical reaction and the roducts resulting from a chemical action ow out of the container through the apcratures and encase the container in a coating of the products of such chemical reaction, thereby forming a connection with the ground having a small ohmic resistance and of a permanent character.

As a preferred form of my ground for a radio I utilize a copper container having a certain number of apertures and in this container place a composition of matter having, in the form of a mixture, copper sulphate, zinc, bicarbonate of soda, and common salt. A hole is dug in the ground and the container with the composition or mixture deposited therein, the electric lead being soldered or otherwise secured to the container. The hole is made slightly larger than the container and after this is installed a quantity of water is poured in the hole, suflicient to enter some of the apertures of the container. A chemical reaction takes place and certain of the products of such reaction exude through the apertures and spread over the sides of the container. The hole may then be filled in and the ground is ready for use and appears to last for an indefinite period.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, so far as illustration appears possible, in which: 30

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the container showing some of the apertures and the electrical connection thereto.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section through the container on the line 22 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the installation of my invention showing it connected to an aerial antenna through a typical radio receiving set.

The container, designated generally by the numeral 1, is preferably formed of copper and comprises a cylinder 2 having a base 3 and a cap 4. The base and the cap form a hermetic connection with the cylinder, being 95 soldered or brazed thereto. A series of central apertures 5 are drilled in the container, the illustration showing six of these, and at the bottom I provide preferably a small number of apertures 7, of which I find two are satisfactory. For a container of the size hereunder mentioned, I find apertures onefourth of an inch diameter suitable. A connector 8 in the form of a strap is attached to the container in any suitable manner and is shown as soldered or brazed to the cylinder and to'the edge of the cap. To this connector is attached an electric lead 9 which is preferably soldered or secured to the con-' nector strap in an equivalent manner.

In a container made approximately 12 inches long and 4 inches in diameter, I place the following composition of matter or mixture of same, in the following proportions; I utilize 2% pounds of copper sulphate (CuSO known in the trade as blue stone or blue vitriol; 16 ounces of zinc (Zn); 5 ounces of sodium hydrogen carbonate M11009, commonl known as bicarbonate of soda or bakin so a; and 8 ounces of sodium chloride aCl), common salt.

The zinc is broken up in small particles but is not in too fine a condition, in other words I do not desire to use zinc in the powdered form or an thing of such nature but the articles are 0 quite appreciable size. The various ingredients are mixed dry, forming a thorou h mixture, and placed in the container be ore the cap is soldered or secured thereto, or they may be filled in the container through an opening in the cap which is afterwards closed and made air tight.

The manner of installing my ground is substantially as follows:

A hole 10 is dug in the soil from the ground level indicated by the numeral 11 in Fig. 3. The hole for the size container mentioned is preferably from two to three feet deep. The container is then placed in the hole, resting on the base 3, the electric lead 9 extending up above the ground level. A quantity of water is then poured in the hole until it rises above the a ertures 5 in the center of the container an this water is left to stand for a length of time. The water enters the container through the apertures and starts a chemical reaction in which there is considerable foaming and gushing or exuding of a substance of a creamy-like nature from the apertures or ports. After allowing this reaction to take place from five to ten minutes the earth is filled back into the hole, burying the container. It is then in condition for use and the lead wire 9 may be connected to the ground connection of a radio receiving set for use with an aerial antenna or with a loop or other collector of ether waves. My ground connection, as above described, does not appear to deteriorate with time and appears to function independently of the relative degree of dryness or dampness of the ground. It is well known that the copper sulphate, the bicarbonate of soda, and the sodium chloride, having an afiinity for water being a h pic substance, and hence probably a orb sufiicient moisture from the ground so that even in dry weather there is sufiicient moisture to form a good conductor in the ground with the salts and chemicals therein. The copper of the container probably has a good electrical connection with the mixture or composition on the inside of the container and also forms a good electrical connection with the products of. the chemical reaction which have exuded through the apertures and coat the outside of the container.

After my ground has been in use for a considerable length of time it is found that the container is practically covered with a coating of the products of the chemical reaction, including possibly part of the dissolved ingredients which have exuded through the apertures, and thus the copper is protected and does not appear to corrode. The outside coating, together with chemicals which become embedded in the ground adjacent the coating, probably function in providing a low electrical resistance from the container to the ground.

While I have described a. container of a simple type and made up of copper, it is to be understood that other materials may be utilized and that other compositions or ingredients may be incorporated therein. However, I prefer to utilize a container and a mixture of ingredients therein which will have an action substantially the same as the copper container and the composition above described. It is to be understood, however, that the proportions of this composition may be materially changed.

I find that my ground may be used as a ground connection for an aerial antenna connecting the lead wire 9 to the ground terminal of a radio receiving set, also in many cases I obtain satisfactory results by utilizing a loop instead of an aerial antenna. I may also utilize my ground as a ground antenna by connecting it to the antenna connection of a radio receiving set. It will be obvious that it may be utilized in many other ways known in the art.

It may be that as the water enters the con-' what takes place, it is probable that the cop- Ill per sulphate. acts with the sodium bicarbonate and liberates carbon dioxide gas. The salt probabl forms part of a solution with water and acilitates the reaction. At any rate some reaction takes place when water is added and the gas is generated and such gas causes the materials of the composition to be expelled or exuded through the openings in the container, some of the exuded material being the products from the chemical reaction. The 'various ingredients utilized in the composition are more or less hygroscopic and the common salt is quite hygroscopic, therefore causing the inter poured in the soil to be readily absorbed and also if any of these materials are forced out of the container they maintain the earth in a moist state.

It is probable that the zinc particles and the copper together with the material of the composition which is moist and damp and may be considered as an electrolyte. form elements of a galvanic or electrolytic cell, the interior circuit being between the two metals and through the composition of the electrolyte and the external circuit being through the earth or any other surrounding material.

I have found that on removal of my grounds which have been used for sometime. that the copper is partly disintegrated and that the material forming the composition or the residual matter is closely adherent to the copper. This appears to give a good electrical connection between the copper. the material of the filling or the residue and the earth. It is probable that after the ground has been in use for a considerable time, that the electrolytic action ceases, but by such time a good electrical conducting connection has been made between the copper and ground.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A ground connection for radios, comprising in combination a metal container having an electric lead connected thereto with a series of openings in the. wall, a composition of matter containing copper sulphate and bicarbonate of soda, the copper sulphate and bicarbonate of soda in the presence of water being adapted to react chemically to generate a gas, the gas forcing part of the composition or the resultant products outwardly through the said openings.

2. A ground connection for radios, comprising in combination a metal container having an electric lead connected thereto with a series of openings in the wall, a composition of matter including copper sulphate, bicarbonate of soda and common salt, the openings allowing entrance of the water, whereby a chemical reaction may take place between the copper sulphate and the bicarbonate of soda.

3. As an article of manufacture, a grounding device for radios, comprising in combination a metal container having an electric lead connected thereto and a series of apertures, a composition of matter therein including copper sulphate and bicarbonate of soda.

4. As an article of manufacture, a grounding device connection for radios as claimed in claim 3, the composition having in addition sodium chloride. 5. As an article of manufacture, a grounding device for radios comprising in combination a metal container having an electric lead connected thereto and a series of apertures in the walls of the container, a composition of matter comprising copper sulphate, bicarbonate of soda to about one-fourth of the amount of copper sulphate, such proportions being by weight.

(3. As an article of manufacture, a grounding device for radios, comprising in combination a copper container having an electric lead connected thereto and a series of apertures, a composition of matter in the container including copper sulphate in the proportion of about two and one-half (2%) pounds and other materials of a. hygroscopic nature, one of such materials being bicarbonate of soda of about five ounces.

7. A ground connection for radios, comprising in combination a container having an electrical connection and a series of openings for passage of water and materials expelled, a composition of matter in the container having ingredients which with water react, developing a gas, the gas forcing some of the composition or the resultant products of the reaction outwardly throughthe openings in the container, the expelled materials having hygroscopic and electrolytic propert1es.

8. A ground connection for radios, com prising in combination a container having an electrical connection and a series of apertures for passage of water and materials expelled, a composition of matter therein having ingredients which in the presence of water react chemically, causing the generation of gas, such gas forcing some of the composition of the resultant products from the reaction out- Wardly through the apertures and causing a partial encasing of the container on the outside, the expelled materials having hygroscopic and electrolytic properties.

9. A ground connection for radios, com? prising in combination a metal container having an electric lead connected thereto, a composition of matter in the container including particles of a metal different from that of the container, said composition of matter with water being adapted to form an electrolyte and the other materials with the elec trolyte being adapted to cause a local action.

1.0. A ground connection for radios, comprising in combination a metal container with a series of apertures for passage of water Ill with the zinc an and expelled materials having an electric lead connected thereto a composition of matter in the container including particles of a metal difl'erent from that of the container, the ingredients of the composition in the presence of water reacting and causing an expulsion of some of the resultant product, through the apertures, the particles of metal and the metal of the container with the composition in the presence of water bein adapted to cause a local action, the expel ed materials having hydroscopic and electrolytic properties.

11. A ground connection for radios as claimed in claim 10, the ingredients of the composition in the presence of water causing a generation of gas in the container, the gas forcing the expulsion of art of the composition or the resultant pro uct.

12. A ground connection for radios, comrising in combination a copper container aving an electrical connection and a series of openings for passage of water and materials expe led, a com osition of matter therein containing partic es of zinc, said composition being adapted to form an electrolyte 'd copper being adapted to cause a local action.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

C. H. PRESTON. 

